This course will explore the promise, power and limitations of ideas and norms in contemporary international security. It will include an exploration of theoretical underpinnings of norms and ideas, examination of case studies in which norms and ideas played important roles in international security, and an evaluation of the future potential of normative factors in our international system. Specifically, the course will look at different ways non-material factors can shape international security, including concepts such as identity, security communities, emotions, and norms. Students will then apply these concepts to a number of case studies, such as nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation, terrorism, security challenges in the Middle East, the coming challenge of China, humanitarian intervention, civil conflict, and resource wars.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Comprehend the importance of non-material factors in international security
- Explain the ways in which non-material factors shape both elite and popular conceptions of what it means to be a successful state
- Hypothesize about how non-material factors can become part of the policy maker cost-benefit calculation in making international security decisions
- Apply non-material factors to key areas of international security, including nuclear politics, terrorism, regional security challenges, the role of emotions and identity in global conflict, and more.
- Debate the limitations of using non-material factors (especially exclusively) in analysing international security issues
Indicative Assessment
Analytical presentation report (1500 words) (25%) (LO 1, 2, 4)
2 critical reading reflections (750 words each) (25%) (LO 1, 2, 3)
Research essay (3000 words) (50%) (LO 3, 4, 5)
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Two hour seminar per week (12 weeks), individual meetings with lecturer (1 week), and 8-10 hours of independent reading/writing per week (13 weeks)
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $3252 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $4638 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
